Cooper



June 16, 1953 B. COOPER INTERLOCK SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 11; 1950 INVENTOR BEN JAMW; ER B 3 13 k M ATTORNEY June 16, 1953 B, COOPER 2,641,919

INTERLOCK SYSTEM Filed 'Jan. 11, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR BENJAMIN COOPER ATTORNEY acylinder lock key ormaster key,

Patented June 16, r 1953 UNITED STATES eMENr oFFxcs I 2,641,919 INTERLOCK SYSTEM Benjaminbonper, New York,N. Y. Application January 11, 1950', Serial No. 137,976"

This invention relates to mechanical interlock systems. It is particularly direz ited to an interlock for use in connection with key identifier units of the type used in registers, watchman systems, toll checking apparatus and simiusual "to provide enclosing and locking; means independent of the identifier key itselfiorjsuch apparatus; In such systems the key for the pro- 'tecti-ng lock or looks can be surreptitiously" used 'orduplicated for use to expose the mechanism to tampering without furnishing a clue as to how or when the unit was opened;

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a mechanical interlock of the character described that can be unlocked only" by the cooperativeuse ofaspecial identifier key' and It is another object of this invention to provide, in a mechanical interlock of the. character described; for the use of the identifier'm'eans in thedevice locked to record identification of the special unlocking identifier key used.

rolaims. (Gino-338i 7 (locked by'means of other similar cylinder locks),

It is a further object of this invention to pro- I vide a mechanical interlock of' the character described that holds a cylinder lock keyormaster key in a cylinder look when the interlock is locked, and which, when a special unlocking "identifier key is used, allows the removal of the master key for use in unlocking protected en,-

closures and at the Sametime operates to prevent the special unlocking identifier key from being removed until the locked-in its lock-i" master key is again It is a further object of this invention to provide a fool-proof, tamper-proof interlocking 'means of the class described that is simple and effective, yet comparatively inexpensive, practical and efficient to a high degree in use.

Other objects ofthis invention will", in part,

cylinder lock key, or master key, being normally held in its lock, can only be removed for use in unlockingv the. encasement enclosing other equip- :ment or, for instance, the identifier unit. encasement itself, or guardedcompartmcnts or rooms after thespecial identifier key has first been used, thereby having registered and continuing toregister its identification number and other pertinent informationthat the identifier might be equipped to record, until the master key is against locked in its interlocking cylinder lock and the special identifier key is thereafter removed. o g

- The invention accordingly consists of the features of construction, combinationsof elements,

and arrangements of-partswhich will be exemplified in the constructionv hereinafter described,

and of which the scope of application will be indicated inthe appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown one of the various possible illustrative embodiments of the invention:

Fig. 1' is a perspective view of a portion of a key identifier unit embodying the invention;

Fig. 2is aside elevational viewof thecylinder lock on an identifier unit;

Fig; 3- is an elevational side cross-sectional view of an identifier lock Fig. 4"- is" a cross-sectional viewtaken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig; 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 3;

identification key Fig, 7 is a perspective view of a maintainers identification key, or master identification-key;

' Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing an identifier-irame and cover;

Fig-9 is aside elevational cross-sectional view of an identifier frame with the cover in place;

and I 1 Fig. 10 is across-sectionalv-iew taken on-line fl"l 0- 0fF1g-. 9 1

Referring now in detail to Fig. 1, It shows the embodiment of a mechanical interlock in a key identifier unit. The construction and operation'of the keyidentifier unit itself is f-ully disclosed in applicants U. S. Patent No. 2,325,744

issued August 3 1943, and only so much of its operationwill be shown and described here as is necessary to bring out adequately the functioning of the interlock system,

Briefly, identifier units are characterized by their application of operation in which a person using such units or dependent apparatus,

is positively identified. Special keys, conventionally termed identifier keys, are issued to personnel authorized to operate or use the said apparatus and an accurate record of their distribution is maintained. Any one of such keys, when inserted in the identifier unit, actuates means which records the number or other identifying indicia particular to that key. Thus, with ceive cylinder lock it; comprising cylinder lock' barrel H and cylinder member l2 mounted as by nut I! so as to be operated by its key 33, the master key, from the front of said plate.

Attached to the rear of plate ll and extending rearwardly therefrom is a cylindrical member l8. Said member has a bore IQ of substantially the same diameter as the opening I2 and coaxial therewith. Fixed to the inside of said member l8 and within bore is a pin 28 aligned with the keyway i3 and projecting upwardly. Rotatably mounted on the rearward end of said member I8 is a sleeve 2| to which is affixed a diametrically and inwardly extending pin 22, positioned in slot 23 and movable therein when said sleeve is rotated with respect to said member.

When viewed from the rear of member l8, slot 23 extends peripherally around said member from the bottom thereof clockwise through an angle of about 90with respect to the common axis, thereby constraining pin 22 together with its integrally connected sleeve 2| to rotational movement of about 90 with respect to said member.

Sleeve 2| has further a slot 24 in its flange portion 9 extending from its periphery inward, approximately rectangular in shape and symmetrical about a diameter of said sleeve. Slot 24 is positioned 90 out of alignment with respect to pin 22 relative to the common axis and in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed from the rear of said sleeve. It is evident therefore that when sleeve 2| is rotated its full 90 clockwise about member is, slot 24 will have moved to a downwardly facing position.

Cylinder lock it has affixed to its rotatable cylinder an arcuate member 25 furnished with a semi-circular cutout 26 in its outer curved edge.

Front plate [I has rearwardly mounted and affixed to it, as by rivets 21, a pivot stud 28, positioned in a vertical plane perpendicular to plate I! and approximately midway between the axis of cylindrical member l8 and cylinder look l6 and in a horizontal plane slightly below the horizontal diameter at cylinder lock it. Rotatably mounted on said pivot member and held thereon as by Washer 29 and cotter-pin 3|) is a pivot arm 3| substantially in a common plane with slot 24 and arcuate member 25, said plane being practically in parallel space relationship with respect to plate Said pivot arm extends substantially horizontally and equidistant in each direction from its .ing in the lock in a horizontal position, as in Fig. 2. Said key in this position is locked in and cannot be removed.

Plate I further has vertically and perpendicularly aifixed thereto a mounting plate 34 (partially shown) positioned to extend rearwardly and below and to the right of the vertical center of cylindrical member l8. Said mounting plate has affixed near its upper and lower edges, as by machine screws 35, brackets 36 and 31 positioned and equipped with rectangular openings in their horizontal surfaces and mounted to serve as guides for slidably mounted bar 38. Said bar is thus substantially held in the common plane with slot 24, cutout 26 and pivot arm 3| and in a vertical plane through the axis of cylindrical member l8.

The upwardly extending end of bar 38 is of a corresponding size and shape with slot 24 so as to be slidable therein when said slot is in a downwardly extending position. When said slot is not in a downward position, said bar is restricted in its upward motion by the interfering annular flange on sleeve 2|.

The lower end of said bar has a fiat, horizontal surface which is in alignment with and abuts a similar surface on said other end of pivot arm 3|. Said bar also has mediately positioned along its length and riveted thereto, a stud 39 adapted to hold one end of spring 40. The other end of said spring is amxed in a hole in lower bracket 3?. Being under tension, said spring thereby tends to hold bar 38 downwardly and in contact with pivot arm 3|.

The keys Ma and MD, shown in Figs. 6 and '7, will now be described. Key M11 is known as an operators key and is used in the ordinary operation of the identifier unit and its associated equipment. Key I4!) is known as a maintainers key, or master identification key. These two types of key differ only slightly as will be pointed out below.

Key |4a has a fiat diametric handle 4| at its rearward end and is formed at its forward end with a substantially cylindrical portion 42 of a somewhat reduced diameter. At the forward end of the cylindrical portion 42 is an annular shoulder 43. The cylindrical portion 42 is formed with a longitudinal slot 44. Mediately the ends of said cylindrical portion is a peripheral slot 45 communicating with the groove on slot 44 and extending to an angle of about with respect to the axis of the key in a clockwise direction as faced from its forward end.- Somewhat forward of peripheral slot 45 is another similar peripheral slot 46. The forward end of said key has two semicircular'shoulders, 41 and 48, forming a fiat surface 49, through the axis of the key. The positions of said semicircular shoulders determine the keys particular identification number. The groove 4dis in alignment withthe lower edge of flattened handle 4|. Fixed to said key is a radially outwardly projecting pin 50 in alignment with the groove 44 and disposed rearwardly of shoulder 43.

The maintainers key or master identification key |4b differs in construction from the operators key |4a only in that it does not have a peripheral slot 46. it is to be understood, however, that the semicircular shoulders 41 and 48 vary in distance along the axis from key to key so that each key has its individual identification number.

The operation of the interlock system is as follows: A master identification key is inserted into the opening l2 of the identifier with the handle removed.

The, cylinder lock 'master key since it may be used to. unlock, by meansoi similar locks, any Or all locked units I keyholes -2 and'53.

fullyinserted, the pin is aligned with. the peripheral slot 45 of the key. The key isthen turned approximately 90 in a clockwise direction (looking to the rear of the identifier, as in Fig. 1

.to. its operating position. As soon as the key is thus inserted and-fully turned, a print is auto- .matically-taken, recording the keys identification number. It should now be noted that the master identification. key has, in being turned 90 in its lock, carried around with it pin 22 and its integrally connected sleeve 2| so; that slot 25 is in a downwardly extending position. It is only when said sleeve is in this positionthat the cylinder lock key 33 can be removed from its look. This is accomplished by action of the interlock mechanism as follows: Turning the key 33 in a clockwise direction, viewed as in Fig. 1,

causes semicircular cutout 26 to move against rounded portion 32 of pivot arm 3! so as to displace it downwardly. The corresponding motion of said other end of said pivot arm imparts'an upward movement to slide bar 33, moving it into .slot 24., When thebar is in this position, it

should be noted that the master identification key cannot beturned, so as to be removed from the identifier. The cylinder lock key 33 can now be removed after turning it approximately 90 ,so that it is in a vertical position. It should also be noted that when an operators key is used its; extra slot 46, which, when the key is in a turning position, is aligned with pin 22,

provides a clearance for saidpin upon its being turned. Because of this, sleeve 2| is not rotated,

the pivot arm 3| cannot be suihciently moved and the cylinder lock key 33 cannot be turned and removed from its lock, It is now evident that 33 cannot be removed. except by the use of a master identification key Mb. Moreover, once the cylinder lock key locked in, neither is the master identification key lib removable until. the cylinder lock key 33 is returned to, and locked in its lock. Since the use and removaloi the master indentification when cover 5% is properly" in place. Cover 54- is key Mb automatically causes registration of the time and the particular keys identification number, it is evident that the identifier system itself serves asa watchman over the. use, of the cylinder lock key, or master key, 33 while it is key 33 is thought of as a Q the identification system, or any other system.

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 show the embodimentof this invention as applied to locking a protective cover on a combination identifier-key'box unit such as is -.lISed.'ill. traffic toll checking systems. In this instance, the identifier unit, not shown in these figures, is located near the bottom of the frame 51 and-is positioned to be operated through the The upper part of frame 5| is used to support a vehicle classification keybox,

not shown.

' Frame 5i has a protective cover 54 designed to fit snugly with and to enclose the back of said frame and to .be locked thereto. Said frame has around its side edges and top edge rearwardly extending undercut shoulders 55 and along its rear bottom edges upwardly extending undercut shoulders 56.

Frame 5|, further, has centrally located in its topshouldera locating .hole 51 and has. also'a pair: of machine: screws 58,: 'one' located. in each side ofsai'd frame at the. intersection of said bottom and. side shoulders,.,said screws being tightly screwed isonly far; enough to allow the cover. edges to be slid between. the underside of the heads of said screws andsaid: bottom andside undercut shoulders; Y

' Frame 5 also has affixed .tozthe: rear: thereof and extending rearwardlyas by screws 59, a V bracket 6b adapted. to support a locking part Bl held thereto at the rearward end. of saidzbracket as by screws 6-2. Said locking part has the shape off-a angle iron, and. in its mounted position register with and engage in locating hole 51' when said cover isproperly. placed on frame. 5 1. Cover 5:4 further has, in its lower front side corners, arcua-te cutouts 65 designed for clearance around the threaded part of the two screws 58. Said cutouts are small enough, however, for said sides to be held in under the heads: of said screws further equipped with a hole 66 in the back to accommodate a tumbler lock 61 mounted. therein in an inwardly extending direction as by nut 68. Said lock has affixed to the rearward. end of its movable cylinder a locking arm 39 having a tapered edge 10. As hereinbefore mentioned, lock 61 is similar to lock Iii in that it is operative by the common cylinder lock key, 33.

Cover 54 is locked to frame Si by first placing it properly on the frame, i. efwith locating pin 64 in place in locating hole 57 and the lower part of said cover placed firmly downwardly and inwardly against frame 5|. 10, it can be seen that as the lock is turned in its. locking or clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 10) lockingarm 69 will be inside locking It will thusbe seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use. 1

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as 'various changes might bemade in the embodiment above set forth,.it is to be. under-stood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In combination, a wall, a cylinder lock on said wall comprising a fixed cylinder lock barrel in which is rotatably mounted a key receiving cylinder member, a fixed cylindrical member on said wall adapted to receive a key, a sleeve rotatably mounted on said fixed cylindrical memher and adapted to be rotated by a key inserted into said fixed cylindrical member, said sleeve Now, referring to Fig.

comprising an annular portion formed with a notch, a bar, means to mount said bar for sliding movement into and out of said notch when said sleeve is in such angular position that the notch registers with said bar, and said annular portion being adapted to retain said barfrom sliding movement in one direction when said notch is misaligned relative to said ban-spring means to 'move said bar in an opposite direction, a lever pivoted to said wall, said lever having onevend engageable with the bar to move said 'bar in the direction of said sleeve upon rotatingsaid lever in one direction of rotation against the tension of said spring means, means on said rotary cylinder member formed with a peripheral recess, and a lip formed on the other end of said lever engageable in the peripheral recess to lock said rotary. clinder member against rotation when the notch on said sleeve is misaligned with respect to said bar, whereby when said sleeve is rotated by insertion of a key into said fixed cylindrical member to a position where said notch is aligned with said bar said rotary cylindrical member may be rotated by a key inserted therein to push the lip out of said peripheral recess for rotating said lever in a direction for pushing one end of said bar into the notch insaid sleeve to lock said sleeve against rotation.

2.. In combination a wall, a cylinder lock on said wall comprising a fixed cylinder lock barrel in which is rotatably mounted a key receiving cylinder member, a fixed cylindrical member on said Wall adapted to receive a key, a sleeve rotatably mounted on said fixed cylindrical member and adapted to be rotated by a key inserted into said fixed cylindrical member, said sleeve comprising an annular portion formed with a notch,

a bar, means to mount said bar for sliding movement into and out of said notch when said sleeve is in such angular position that the notch registers with said bar, and said annular portion being adapted to retain said bar from sliding movement in the direction of said sleeve when said notch is misaligned relative to said bar, spring means to move said bar in an opposite direction, a lever pivoted to said Wall, said lever having one end engage-able with the bar to move said bar in said first direction upon rotating said lever in one direction of rotation against the tension of said spring means, latching means on said rotary cylinder member, and means on the other end of said lever engageable Withsaid latching means to lock said rotary cylinder member against rotation when the notch on said sleeve is misaligned with respect to said bar, whereby when said sleeve is rotated by insertion comprising a sleeve afiixed to and perpendicularly extending from said wall, an axially bored cylinder rotatably disposed within said sleeve having one end thereof extending longitudinally therefrom, a radial flange secured to said extending cylinder end, a segmental'member secured to said flange having a peripheral recess therein, the other of said key receivers comprising :a cylinder affixed to and perpendicularly extending from said wall, a sleeve rotatably disposed on the periphery of a reduced diametric portion of said cylinder, a radial flange affixed to and rotatable with said latter sleeve having a peripheral notch therein, a slidable latching bar, means for slidably mounting said latching bar in the plane of said notched flange, a pivotal lever, means to pivotally mount said lever in spaced relation on said wall with one end of said lever being disposed in engagement with one end of said latching bar, spring means to retain said latching bar in engagement with said lever, and means formed on the other end of said lever adapted for latching, engagement with the recess in said segmental member, whereby rotation of said notched flange to a position aligning said notch with said latching bar permits said lever to be displaced from latching engagement with said segmental member.

4-. In combination, a mechanical interlock comprising a key receiving means, a cylinder lock barrel, a key receiving cylinder member rotatable in said cylinder lock barrel, said cylinder member being rotatable from a first angular position to a second angular position with respect to said cylinder lock barrel, means to prevent rotation of said cylinder member when in the second angular position, a rotatable sleeve on said key receiving means, said sleeve being provided with a notch and rotatable from a first angular position to a second angular position, a latching bar slidable from a first position out of engagement with said notch to a second position in engagement with said notch, said sleeve normally preventing sliding movement of said latching bar from its first to its second position, means interconnecting said latching bar to the means which prevents rotation of the cylinder member to prevent the rotation of said cylinder member from its second to its first angular position when said sleeve is in its first position, said interconnecting means being controlled by movement of the cylinder memher from its second to its first angular position to move said latching bar into engagement with said notch when said sleeve is in its second angular position, and means controlled by the rotation of the cylinder member from its first to its second angular position to release said latching bar from said notch.

, BENJAMIN COOPER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 537,311 Schade Apr. 9, 1895 2,126,333 Kirk Aug. 9, 1938 2,220,786 Grainger Nov. 5, 1940 2,336,936 Johnson Dec. 14, 1943 

